Some seven minutes behind the lead woman, last year’s winner Mirinda Carfrae of Australia leaves the transition area.

To the left is Transition Director David Huerta and to the right Swim Director Jan War. If you have designs on any kind of success in Kona, follow this advice: If these guys say “jump” you ask only how high, in which direction and when. Good karma inevitably follows.

Eventual race winner Sebastian Kienle on the the hot and windy lava fields approaching the long climb before the Scenic Point. He set a blistering pace on one of the windiest days in recent memory...and with the third fastest bike split in race history.

In more recent years, overall top contenders have come back to the finish line to greet midnight finishers with leis. Mirinda Carfrae’s winning times were 1:00:14, 5:05:48, 2:50:26 and 9:00:55; Sebastian Kienle’s were 54:38, 4:20:46, 2:54:36 and 8:14:18.

The Ironman World Championship finish near midnight should be on everybody’s bucket list. From the other side...